Page 13 - ATA

A16 LOCAL
Thursday 15 February 2018
-Dutch Kingdom private sector and NGOs getting together to help the economy of St. Martin and

increase cooperation between the islands.

Build Back Better Week on St. Martin from March 16th till March 20th 2018

-Organized by Ernst & ral disasters. This event will
Young Dutch Caribbean, take place from March 16
Centre of Excellence for to March 18, 2018.
SIDS (UNDP), the Dutch Next to that, The Dutch
Caribbean Chambers of Caribbean Chambers of
Commerce and Present Commerce and Present
Your Startup Caribbean. Your Startup Caribbean are
organizing a “Do-Trade”
WILLEMSTAD - Recent natu- event in St. Martin during
ral disasters have had a the BBB Week which will be
devastating effect on is- a Trade mission consisting
lands in the Caribbean. It of training-, matchmaking-
is key for a wide array of and networking sessions.
stakeholders to collaborate This event will also be the
to find solutions to build kick off of a cross-border
more resilient island for the cooperation amongst the
future and prevent history Dutch Chambers. The Do-
from repeating itself. Trade will take place on
the 19th of March 2018. The
Following the destruction Dutch Caribbean Cham-
caused by hurricanes Irma bers are encouraging all
and Maria, St. Martin and interested companies to
nearby islands started re- join this trade mission, while
building their society, econ- Present Your Startup Carib-
omy, and institutions; any bean will join with investors
available help is more than and startups from the Neth-
welcome. For this reason, erlands.
the Centre of Excellence “It’s really in the spirit of
for Small Island Develop- ‘a little less conversation,
ing States (SIDS) - a Unit- a little more action’, that
ed Nations Development we are organizing the Do-
Program (UNDP) initiative Tank”, explains Arno Boers-
based in Aruba - and EY ma, Manager of the Cen-
Dutch Caribbean are orga- ter of Excellence. “With a
nizing the “Build Back Better great diversity of stakehold-
Week SXM”. This indepen- ers I am sure we’ll see great
dent, inclusive BBB Week ideas that are also feasible
aims to surface actionable to implement, and we
ideas and connections for are ready to share them
a resilient future of St. Mar- with other SIDS around the
tin. world.” Bryan Irausquin,
The BBB Week consists of a Office Managing Partner
“Do-Tank”, a hackathon- of EY Dutch Caribbean,
like event to develop ac- adds that “building a bet-
tions whereby stakehold- ter future for the people of
ers in sustainable tourism, St. Martin starts by asking Tank as proof of our com- bean Chamber of Com- - Aruba Centre of Excel-
entrepreneurship and re- better questions that lead mitment to St. Martin that merce (DCCC) are excited lence for SIDS Aruba (Arno
newable energy can par- to better answers; this is ex- the answers will also lead about this opportunity. This Boersma; arno.boersma@
ticipate in creating a more actly what we intent to do to actions and results that will be a great platform to undp.org)
resilient future for St. Mar- with creative minds during boost the sustainable de- not only help the St. Martin - EY Dutch Caribbean – Cu-
tin and other Caribbean the Do-Tank. Moreover, we velopment of St. Martin”. business community to get racao (Axel de Vries; +5999
islands affected by natu- are calling this event a Do- “We at the Dutch Carib- on its feet quicker, but it will 430 5000)
also increase ties between - Dutch Caribbean Cham-
Kingdom businesses,” ac- bers of Commerce (Kirsten
cording to Billy Jonckheer Römer; +5999 461 1451)
president of DCCC. - Present Your Startup Ca-
Anyone interested in afore- ribbean (Valerie Vallen-
mentioned topics is invited duuk; +31 4673 0993)
to join and contribute to - and/ or Aruba Chamber
the BBB Week. of Commerce (Business In-
Build Back Better Week formation & Support; +297
SXM, with the combination 5821566)
of a Do-Tank and Do-Trade Details about the BBB SXM
promises to make a great Week can be found on our
contribution to a more re- website www.BuildBack-
silient future for St. Martin. BetterSXM.com
Don’t hesitate to join us! You can also follow us on
For more info or inquiries, Facebook: fb.me/Build-
please contact: BackBetterSXMq